I want it Wednesday

Leftovers gets the spotlight this Wednesday. It's by the same author who wrote Such a pretty girl, which I am enjoying.

Here is a summary:
A devastating novel of desperation and revenge from one of today's most compelling new voices in fiction. In this follow-up to her heartbreaking debut, Such a Pretty Girl, Laura Wiess once again spins a shattering tale of the tragedies that befall young women who are considered society's Leftovers.

Blair and Ardith are best friends who have committed an unforgivable act in the name of love and justice. But in order to understand what could drive two young women to such extreme measures, first you'll have to understand why. You'll have to listen as they describe parents who are alternately absent and smothering, classmates who mock and shun anyone different, and young men who are allowed to hurt and dominate without consequence. You will have to learn what it's like to be a teenage girl who locks her bedroom door at night, who has been written off by the adults around her as damaged goods. A girl who has no one to trust except the one person she's forbidden to see. You'll have to understand what it's really like to be forgotten and abandoned in America today

I cut because....

Kendra is being stalked, but she doesn't know by who. The person who is stalking her constantly reminds Kendra not to talk about her abuse. But she couldn't talk if she wanted to. Kendra has faded memories of being sexually abused. Her mother isn't much help. In order to deal with her confusing, dark world she cuts herself to feel better. She loves the feel, the release and can't stop herself from cutting.

While Kendra's life seems to be nothing but pain she finds herself falling in love with a classmate. She also uses her art to help heal the pain.

This book was decent. I thought it was going to be better than it was. Kendra is a good character, but there is too much stuff going on in this book. First, she has a stalker. Kendra was sexually abused. Kendra cuts herself. Kendra is gay. Kendra uses art to cope. Kendra has a monkey. Well, she doesn't have a monkey, but it feels like everything was piled into this book. To top it off the shocking ending wasn't shocking at all and I saw it coming a mile away.

Students looking for books like Cut will enjoy Scars. For me there was too much going on, but maybe this book will help students who are dealing with a lot of different issues.

I want it Wednesday

It's time to hand over the spotlight to the gentlemen. This book is for them. It is, after all, football season.

Summary: Overweight, somewhat timid Mitch reluctantly agrees to be the sports reporter for the Lincoln High newspaper because he is determined to be a writer, but he senses a real story in Angel, a talented football player who refuses to stand out on the field--or to discuss his past.

Historical Fiction Friday

Every once in a while I post an adult book. I know some of my teens like to branch out and try something else. I don't post many, but I had to post this one.

Ms. Elliot was kind enough to give me a copy of Dark Moon of Avalon and I can't wait to read it. I read the first novel and loved it. Check out the summary.


Summary: The second installment of Elliot's Twilight of Avalon trilogy returns to the tale of former Queen Isolde and her devoted champion, Trystan. Now that Britain is in danger of falling to treacherous Lord Marche and his ruthless Saxon allies, Isolde knows that her only chance to save the kingdom is a desperate alliance with Saxon king Cerdic, whose willingness is uncertain. Trystan escorts Isolde on her quest to find Cerdic and, in the process, she learns more than she'd like about their time apart, during which he endured everything from slavery to torture; their greatest challenge, however, will be to trust their love. Elliot brings the Arthurian world to rich life, creating a Britain both familiar and distinctly alien to fans of medieval romances. Though Tristan and Isolde's romantic hedging, an obvious play to prolong the sexual tension, can frustrate, fans of the first book should be satisfied with this intermediary episode.

I want it Wednesday

The cover and the summary of this book caught my attention quickly. I think it would be a hit with my students. I look forward to reading it.

Summary:
Ames is not the person she was a few months ago. Her father lost his job, and her family is falling apart. All she has is Marc, who loves her more than anything. But Marc also owns a gun collection. And he'll stop at nothing --- even using his guns --- to get what he wants. Ames feels her parents have betrayed her with their lies and self-absorption, but is she prepared to make the ultimate betrayal against them?

Non Fiction: Eye opening a must read for teen girls

Marvelyn isn't the perfect teen, and she confesses to that. Sometimes she was a bit wild, there were times when school didn't take center stage and she had no direction in life. College wasn't always on the radar, but she was a good athlete.

The story opens with Marvelyn in the hospital. She is sick and no one knows why. Soon she discovers that she has HIV. The person that gave it to her is a person she never imagined. The one person she loved. Her Prince Charming.

The book deals with a lot of misconceptions people have about HIV/AIDS; and Marvelyn's new life as she tries to deal with her new status. She also talks about the suicide of her friend and how that impacted everyone. She writes about her relationship with her mother and how she started to become a national spokesperson for HIV/AIDS.

The book is good, and I strongly encourage teen girls to read it. However, sometimes one has to question Ms. Brown's actions. I suppose we all make mistakes. Yet she knows the mistakes she is making and still goes through with them. For instance, she and another HIV/AIDS spokesperson engage in sex without protection. Apparently, when two HIV positive people engage in sex it could be dangerous(I did not know this). She knows its wrong, confesses that it is wrong, yet continues to do it. I wonder...why? Does that make her a hypocrite?

Despite the flaws(or maybe they enhance the book), I found this an excellent read.

The Winner is!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The winner of the book giveaway is Mezzowriter!

Congratulations. Please send your address to yabookmarks@gmail.com

I want it Wednesday

For this week's I want it Wednesday I stumbled across Timeless. It's not out yet, in fact it comes out January 11, 2011. Check out the summary.

Summary:
When tragedy strikes Michele Windsor’s world, she is forced to uproot her life and move across the country to New York City, to live with the wealthy, aristocratic grandparents she’s never met. In their old Fifth Avenue mansion filled with a century’s worth of family secrets, Michele discovers a diary that hurtles her back in time to the year 1910. There, in the midst of the glamorous Gilded Age, Michele meets the young man with striking blue eyes who has haunted her dreams all her life – a man she always wished was real, but never imagined could actually exist. And she finds herself falling for him, into an otherworldly, time-crossed romance.

Michele is soon leading a double life, struggling to balance her contemporary high school world with her escapes into the past. But when she stumbles upon a terrible discovery, she is propelled on a race through history to save the boy she loves – a quest that will determine the fate of both of their lives.

Labor Day Weekend

Enjoy the long weekend. School starts up for me next week so I'll be on a normal schedule again. Stay safe!